El Chapo’s Son Caught During Massive Shootout That Left 8 Dead, But Was Released to Save Lives: Mexican Officials

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

A bloody, prolonged shootout between Mexican security forces and suspected cartel members in Sinaloa state this week was an intentional — and ultimately abandoned — attempt to capture a son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman for extradition to the United States, Mexican officials now say.

Troops did temporarily detain Ovidio Guzman Lopez during Thursday’s operation in the city of Culiacan, officials said. But as the battle dragged on, he was released and the operation was suspended to save lives, the country’s defense secretary and security minister said Friday.

The battle, which sent families hiding in terror for hours, left seven people dead: Five “aggressors,” one Mexican National Guard member, and one civilian, Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said on Twitter.

The Associated Press later reported that eight people had died, more than 20 were wounded and 49 prisoners were at large Friday after 56 escaped from custody amid the chaos.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador acknowledged Friday that security forces went to Culiacan to capture the son on a judge’s order. Mexico’s Security Cabinet eventually suspended the operation “to protect the lives of the people,” he said.

He did not deny, when pressed by reporters, that Ovidio Guzman Lopez was released.

“The capture of a criminal cannot be worth more than the lives of the people … many citizens, people, human beings were at risk,” López Obrador said during a press briefing in Oaxaca.”

Nine government soldiers or law enforcement officers who were captured by the suspected cartel members during the battle were released when the government stopped the operation, Mexican Secretary of National Defense Luis Cresencio said Friday during a news conference in Sinaloa.

The troops’ intent was to arrest Guzman Lopez for extradition to the United States, Durazo, the security minister, said Friday.

Panicked residents flee

The battle started Thursday afternoon, when law enforcement officers and members of the Mexican National Guard took control of a house with four occupants, Durazo said late Thursday. One of the occupants was Ovidio Guzman Lopez, authorities said.

Other members of a criminal group arrived on scene, with more firepower than authorities, including .50-caliber machine guns. Violent attacks erupted in different parts of the city creating “a situation of panic,” Durazo said.

Many residents fled in panic while others remained locked in their homes as troops engaged in intense gun battles throughout the day. Residents were asked to stay inside, and schools have been closed until further notice, officials said.

Images on social media appeared to show the terror unleashed on the inhabitants of Culiacan. Plumes of black smoke billowed on the horizon while on the ground, mothers coddled their children while searching for cover behind parked cars.

Durazo announced late Thursday that the government suspended the operation.

Initially, Durazo said the battle began when federal troops were conducting a routine patrol, and that people inside the home attacked them. When the troops fought back, they found Guzman Lopez inside the home, Durazo said Thursday.

López Obrador’s statements on Friday, however, contradict Durazo’s assertion that it was a routine patrol.

Who is Ovidio Guzman Lopez?

Jose Luis Gonzalez Meza, legal advisor of the Guzman family, shows a letter from the mother of Joaquin Guzmn during a press conference to express the gratitude of the family to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for the release of Ovidio Guzman on Oct. 18, 2019, in Mexico City. (Credit: Hector Vivas / Getty Images)